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CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)

Serbia

1999 Edition · 99 data fields

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Introduction

Background

Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US. The US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.

Geography

Area

total: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km) land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km) water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)

Area--comparative

slightly smaller than Kentucky (Serbia is slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro is slightly smaller than Connecticut)

Climate

in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland

Coastline

199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Daravica 2,656 m

Environment--current issues

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

Environment--international agreements

party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

44 00 N, 21 00 E

Geography--note

controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

total: 2,246 km border countries: Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia), Croatia (north) 241 km (with Serbia), Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro), Hungary 151 km (with Serbia), The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia), Romania 476 km (with Serbia) note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%

Location

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

NA

Natural hazards

destructive earthquakes

Natural resources

oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome

Terrain

extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast

People and Society

Age structure

0-14 years: Serbia--20% (male 1,102,109; female 1,025,069); Montenegro--21% (male 75,633; female 70,464) 15-64 years: Serbia--67% (male 3,538,689; female 3,483,192); Montenegro--68% (male 232,223; female 227,371) 65 years and over: Serbia--13% (male 595,200; female 782,219); Montenegro--11% (male 30,829; female 43,849) (July 1999 est.)

Birth rate

Serbia--12.54 births/1,000 population; Montenegro? 13.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

Serbia--9.68 deaths/1,000 population; Montenegro? 7.44 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups

Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%, Hungarians 4%, other 13%

Infant mortality rate

Serbia--16.49 deaths/1,000 live births; Montenegro--10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages

Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%

Life expectancy at birth

total population: Serbia--73.45 years; Montenegro--76.32 years male: Serbia--71.03 years; Montenegro-- 72.87 years female: Serbia--76.05 years; Montenegro--80.07 years (1999 est.)

Literacy

NA

Nationality

noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s) adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin

Net migration rate

Serbia---2.65 migrants/1,000 population; Montenegro---5.09 migrants/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

11,206,847 (Serbia--10,526,478; Montenegro?680,369) (July 1999 est.) note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerable error because of the dislocations caused by military action and ethnic cleansing

Population growth rate

Serbia--0.02%; Montenegro?0.07% (1999 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%

Sex ratio

at birth: Serbia--1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro--1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: Serbia--1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro--1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: Serbia--1.02 male(s)/female; Montenegro--1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: Serbia--0.76 male(s)/female; Montenegro--0.70 male(s)/female total population: Serbia--0.99 male(s)/female; Montenegro--0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

Serbia--1.74 children born/woman; Montenegro--1.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Government

Administrative divisions

2 republics (republike, singular--republika); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular--autonomna pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*

Capital

Belgrade (Serbia), Podgorica (Montenegro)

Constitution

27 April 1992

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora note: Serbia and Montenegro has self-proclaimed itself the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) but the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation

Data code

Serbia--SR; Montenegro?MW

Executive branch

chief of state: President Slobodan MILOSEVIC (since 23 July 1997); note--Milan MILUTINOVIC is president of Serbia (since 21 December 1997); Milo DJUKANOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 21 December 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Momir BULATOVIC (since 20 May 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September 1995), Vuk DRASKOVIC (since 1 February 1999), Jovan ZEBIC (since 9 April 1998), and Vladan KUTLESIC (since 20 March 1997), Zoran LILIC (since 20 May 1998), Danilo VUKSANOVIC (since 20 May 1998) cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 23 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Slobodan MILOSEVIC elected president; percent of legislative vote--Slobodan MILOSEVIC 90%

Government type

republic

Independence

11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)

International organization participation

ICFTU, IOC, OPCW Diplomatic representation in the US: the US and Serbia and Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to function in the US chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Nebojsa VUJOVIC chancery: 2410 California St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Serbia and Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Richard M. MILES embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address: American Embassy, Belgrade, United States Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5070 (pouch)

Judicial branch

Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms; Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms Political parties and leaders: Serbian Socialist Party or SPS Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40 seats--20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basis of party representation in the republican assemblies to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138 seats -, 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majorities and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six elected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members serve four-year terms) elections: Chamber of Republics--last held 24 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens--last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Chamber of Republics--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--NA; note--seats are filled on a proportional basis to reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of Montenegro and Serbia; Chamber of Citizens--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS 16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note--Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS, GSS

National holiday

St. Vitus Day, 28 June

Suffrage

16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal

Economy

Agriculture--products

cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras

Debt--external

$11.2 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$NA

Economy--overview

The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 has been followed by highly destructive warfare, the destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup of important interrepublic trade flows. Output in Serbia and Montenegro dropped by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had depended on its sister republics for large amounts of energy and manufactures. Wide differences in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the republics accentuated this interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating much industrial output in a small number of giant plants. The breakup of many of the trade links, the sharp drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical assets in the fighting all have contributed to the economic difficulties of the republics. One singular factor in the economic situation of Serbia is the continuation in office of a government that is primarily interested in political and military mastery, not economic reform. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a new currency unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable from 1995 through 1997, but inflationary pressures resurged in 1998. Reliable statistics continue to be hard to come by, and the GDP estimate is extremely rough. The economic boom anticipated by the government after the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995 has failed to materialize. Government mismanagement of the economy is largely to blame. Also, the Outer Wall sanctions that exclude Belgrade from international financial institutions and an investment ban and asset freeze imposed in 1998 because of Belgrade's repressive actions in Kosovo have added to economic difficulties.

Electricity--consumption

35.999 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

156 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

36.155 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 63.44% hydro: 36.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates

Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1--official rate: 10.0 (December 1998), 5.85 (December 1997), 5.02 (September 1996), 1.5 (early 1995); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998), 8.9 (December 1997), 2 to 3 (early 1995)

Exports

$2.3 billion (1998 est.)

Exports--commodities

manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials

Exports--partners

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity--$25.4 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

agriculture: 25% industry: 50% services: 25% (1994 est.)

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$2,300 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

3.5% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$3.9 billion (1998 est.)

Imports--commodities

machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials

Imports--partners

Germany, Italy, Russia

Industrial production growth rate

8% (1997 est.)

Industries

machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs, appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

48% (1998 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force--by occupation

industry 41%, services 35%, trade and tourism 12%, transportation and communication 7%, agriculture 5% (1994)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

more than 35% (1995 est.)

Communications

Radio broadcast stations

27 (public or state-owned 1, private 26)

Radios

2.015 million

Telephone system

domestic: NA international: satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

700,000

Television broadcast stations

more than 771 (consisting of 86 strong stations, 685 low-power stations, and 20 repeaters in the principal networks; there are also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)

Televisions

1 million

Transportation

Airports

48 (Serbia 43, Montenegro 5) (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) under 914 m: 4 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 0) (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) 914 to 1,523 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1) under 914 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1) (1998 est.)

Highways

total: 50,414 km paved: 45,020 km (including 545 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,394 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,437 GRT/400 DWT (owned by Montenegro) (1998 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 415 km; petroleum products 130 km; natural gas 2,110 km Ports and harbors: Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat, Zelenika

Railways

total: 3,987 km standard gauge: 3,987 km 1.435-m gauge (1,377 km partially electrified since 1992) (1998)

Waterways

NA km

Military and Security

Military branches

Army (including ground forces with border troops, naval forces, air and air defense forces)

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$911 million (1999)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

6.5% (1999)

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: Serbia--2,727,292; Montenegro--187,198 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: Serbia--2,183,534; Montenegro--150,415 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--military age

Serbia?NA years of age; Montenegro--19 years of age

Military manpower--reaching military age annually

males: Serbia--NA; Montenegro--5,671 (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international

disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina over Serbian populated areas; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian republic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP); the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far

Illicit drugs

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route

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